Something's a little fishy here..........

The liturgical season of Lent means fish to a lot of people.....and not always in a good way.  What is Lent?  You know, when Catholics have to eat fish.  In the circles I frequent, this wondrous insight is usually followed with, 'I'm glad I'm a Lutheran.  We don't have to eat fish.'

That's it?  That's Lent?  Fish?

However, you are right.  We Lutherans don't have to eat fish.  We don't have to pray or give food to the hungry.  We don't have to attend to acts of charity or read the Bible or even attend worship more frequently.  We aren't required to think about anyone but ourselves nor are we required to do anything but what we have been doing all the other days of the year.

For some all of that spells freedom.  Freedom from the oppression of the church.  Freedom from ancient and 'meaningless' traditions.  Freedom to worship God as we want.

Which is all well and good if 'worshiping God' is what you are doing and not simply avoiding the discomfort which comes with knowing that God is too often forgotten and the world too often in charge.

No, you don't have to eat fish.  It is only a strategy to remind us that God is the provider of all., and we give thanks. It reminds us that some of your neighbors will not be eating at all this evening, and so we give something extra to the food pantry.  It helps us think about God's creation and to consider how well we are caring for it and how we might change.  It gives us a specific time to give attention to our prayers for someone we know really needs God's help.

It's not about the fish.  But I guess you already figured that out.

Be blessed by this time of Lenten observation.  Use it to exercise your spirit and re-connect with God and neighbor.